The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-14
THROWN FROM THE TRACK.
Wreck Of a Passenger Train on the In
dianapoliS and Vincennes Road.
Precipitated Down an Embankment While
Running at the Rate of Fifty Miles an Hour
Miraculous Escape Of the Passengers.

When passenger train No. II. of the Indianap-
oils & yincennes railroad. pulled out of the
loaded with passengers. The train consisted of
baggage-car, a smoker and passenger coach
There were twelve or fifteen ladies in the coach,
and as many children. The train was in charge
of P. F. Strip, conductor, and NJ. nj. Dorsey,
engineer Having left the Union Depot fifteen
minutes late. Engineer Dorsey began to open
the throttle before the city limits were cleared.
A stop was made at the stockyards, and as
there were no passengers TO let off at the next
stop, mile and a half further on, Conductor
Strip told Mr.. Dorsey to open her out or they
would not make Hyndsdale, the first station be-
low Martinsvlle. in time to sidetrack for the
up-passenger train. The conductor did as he
was directed to. and when the train neared
Beelers it was flying the rails at the rate Of
fifty miles per hour. After the stockyards were
passed the conductor began to collect tickets.
He had reached nearly the center of the smok-
ine-car, and was tearing mile slips out of the
thousand mile ticket Of John Robbins, travel
ing man of Martinsville, when suddenly there
was jerk. Hold on to your seats" was all ne
had time to say before the train was rolling
down ten foot embankment The passengers
grabbed their seats as instructed and held on
with death grip until the cars had reached
stand-still. The women screamed, and the
scene is described by those aboard as frightful
one.
The cause of the accident was a broken rail.
The engine and tender passed over safely. but
when the front wheels Of the truck of the
baggage car struck the rail it was out of place,
and the car, followed by the two behind it,
dashed down the embankment to the right of
the track. The baggage landed fully
twenty five feet from the track, and, after
turning over twice, rested on its side. The
smoker breaking loose from the baggage car
did not get quite so far from the track. and
| landed It's side with the rear end on the
| track The rear coach was not separated from
the preceding car, and rested its side length
| wise, with the track a distance of fifteen or
| twenty feet from it.
Strange as it may seem, the cars held together
through the fearful fall, and the lives Of all the
passengers were spared The stoves of the
| cars, which are of new style, with fastenings
on the doors, which keep them shut on all occa-
! sions. saved the cars from being destroyed by
/ fire. The door of the stove in the rear car,
| however, came open, and the Goals rolled out on
! the floor. One man from Paragon, who kept
| his presence of mind, was fastened near
| the stove but in reach of it, and, with
| the shovel, he put the Goals back into
the stove and averted a fire. The seats
in all the cars were jostled out of their places
and half the passengers were fastened when they
came to their senses. AS as tho situation
| was realized by those in the cars, who were not
| in any way hurt, they set about to relieve those
who were suffering from injuries. Many ir
both the coaches who were imprisoned thought
| that they were dan gerously hurt, but 1t was
soon evident that dangerously in
jured. The trainmen, none Of whom were hur
beyond slight bruises speedily got everybody
out of the cars. The injured are follows:
G. T. ALLEN. Lyons-Leg broken and bruised
| about the head
ME-. T1rIET HAYWORTH, Mooresville-shoul
der dislocated and a cut on the foreheai.
JOHN HATFIELD, Northumberland badly
burned having been thrown against the stove. He
had leg broken two hours previously by fall OF
the sidewalk in lndianapois
across the forehead.
DEBORAH GREGORY, Mooresvlle-S,ght scall
wound.
JAMES BARRETT, Wilbur-Scaln wound
MARY JOSEPH. a nun, Indianapos-Wr
broken.
MRS. SMITH, colored, Indianola-Face burned b.
falling against stove.
3. r. ALTON. Bcknell-Bone of right leg tract
| ured.
JOHN QUACKENBUSH. Sheridan-Leg broken
l.. G. QUACKENBUSII, Sherdan-Leg bruised
There were as many more persons who re
ceived slight injuries, and in fact there were bu
few of the seventy FIVE passengers who were no
more or less bruised. When all the person
were out of the wreck telegram sent iron
the stockyards for the wrecking train, an
most of the passengers were brought back to tn
! city, and received medical treatment under tn
direction of the officers of the railroad company
They were taken to the hotels. and will be mad
{ comfortable until they are able to return home
Superintendent Mansfield gave his personal al
tentIon to their wants, ard will see that they re
: ceive the best of attention. At $50 o'clock
special trai left for Vincennes. and all thos
but slightly injured returned to their homes o
it.
It seems little less than miracle that som
one not killed. The embankment wher
the train went down is ten twelve feet high
and nothing but the stanch build of the car